Galisteo Bistro

So happy the original owners have returned!
Sometimes a restaurant becomes a special gathering place for a family. For our family, Galisteo Bistro became that place. It was my father’s favorite restaurant in Santa Fe from the moment it opened in 2009, his choice for special occasions and the rest of us loved it as well. The original owners, Rob and Marge Chickering, always made us feel welcome and were so kind to all of us. After my father’s death, we all felt close to him there, and the wonderful meals and service continued. The Chickerings mourned his loss with us and continued to welcome us. They sold the restaurant in 2014 and the result was such a disappointment. The food, ambiance and service suffered. Gone was the welcoming atmosphere and attention to detail. We went back once, and couldn’t return. But now, the original owners are back! Dining there this evening was like coming home again. They have restored the interior, some old faces have returned, the food is again wonderful, and the Chickerings are there to welcome everyone. The restaurant offers an extensive top-​notch wine list, and the owners and waiters are knowledgeable about the offerings. We were happy to have our favorite waiter, Luis, has also returned.
We started the meal with the wonderful Crispy Eggplant with Tomato Jam (a former favorite). The almost paper thin slices of eggplant are lightly coated and fried, not at all greasy and the jam is the perfect accompaniment. We were happy to see the savory flan has also returned to the menu. It is a «must try»! Two at our table enjoyed the Alaskan Cod Skordalia, a large serving of perfectly roasted fish on a bed of sautéed spinach with fresh lemon and served with classic Greek Skordalia (roasted potatoes, garlic, olive oil). Others loved the Chicken Braciole, pan-​roasted rolled natural chicken breast stuffed w/​vegetable caponata & finished w/​mushrooms, concasse, cream & roasted squash gnocchi. The Farmhouse Meatloaf (a blend of beef, veal & pork) is served with mushroom demi-​glacé, house smashed potatoes & sautéed vegetables, and we all agreed that it just might be the best meatloaf any of us has ever tasted.
Do NOT skip dessert. We shared the tangy lemon tart and the unbelievably light flourless chocolate tart. You won’t find better desserts in this town. The French-​press coffee is also very good.
From start to finish the meal was expertly prepared and the service is back to the standards we’d experienced before the Chickerings left. It is so wonderful to have them back in Santa Fe and to see the lovely Galisteo Bistro back to what it was. We are already thinking about what to order next time.

If you stop serving dinner at 830, change your business hours to say so. Tried to stop in for a nice dinner. Hubby and I were able to find a babysitter and hadn’t visited Galisteo Bistro in a month or so. Hours show they close at 9pm on Sunday. We walked in at 8:32pm. The host told us they were closed and no longer serving and asked, «What were you looking for?» Really? We were looking to eat at Galisteo Bistro. As frequent local customers, we won’t be visiting again. I’d give zero stars based on customer service, but Unilocal makes you give at least one to leave a review.

SIMPLY OUTSTANDING. Rob and Marge reopened their former place on December 16, 2015. The food is OUTSTANDING. You can choose from tapas, full entrees, salads, et al. The hanger steak was cooked perfectly, medium rare, tender and delicious. The jambalaya reminded me of New Orleans. Good choice of wines reasonably priced. We ate here years ago when Rob and Marge were first in town. This is an exceptional reopening. Staff is terrific — friendly, personable and helpful. Marge frequently greets you at the door and makes you feel like family. Rob can frequently be seen working the floor — these are personal touches you rarely see in other restaurants. Next time I want the lamb shank, you could see it fall off the bone. We also want to try the desserts which looked delicious. HIGHLY RECOMMEND if you like really good food, good service and reasonable prices.

Was excited to take my boyfriend here for a romantic birthday dinner after reading all the great reviews. Called to get a reservation for tomorrow night and found out they are closed until they get their new liquor license. Bummer! The three stars are for my eagerness to try it in the future.

Undercooked food. My eggplant parm was crunchy and only a young inexperienced chef would allow that. My wife’s chicken was also undercooked pink. Very nice menu and I was optimistic in finding this bistro. Nor worth the price.

My husband and I loved this place. We were greeted so warmly when we arrived, made us feel very special. Our dinner was fabulous. We shared their special salad with the best homemade dressing and I had fish, cook to perfection. My husband had the eggplant, like nothing we (had to taste) ever had. OMG. Nice bottle of wine and homemade deserts
Atmosphere perfect. Can’t wait to go back.

We went there on a Sunday night to celebrate a 90^th birthday in our group. The service was wonderful and all our entrees were great! They brought us out a complimentary glass of champagne and also comped our dessert. The dessert was absolutely delicious! A homemade vanilla ice cream, topped with chocolate mousse, topped with whipped cream and some chocolate drizzles. I can highly recommend the trout. My mother in law loved her chicken and her husband (the birthday boy) loved his veal and linguine. My husband enjoyed his fresh, homemade gazpacho. A wonderful evening and we will be back!

The food quality, atmosphere and service notes here all work like a symphony. The only thing daunting is the wine list as there are so many international selections. Even the champagne and blushed wine selections are impressive, and that is always a sign of fine dining detail and care. We ate 3 wonderful courses, and enjoyed every bite. This is a high style carnivores delight, with even a few items for vegetarians, such as eggplant parm. Hard core vegetarians, would be served better elsewhere, as the meats and fish take center stage here. Amazing presentation and course and flavor blending. wow! Thanks to Shelly she Is an amazing server.

Food was fantastic! Butterfish is great choice. However, wine was overpriced, 50 dollars for four glasses of house Chardonnay.

Wonderful experience from the moment we arrived. This was our first visit. The friendly staff all made us feel appreciated. We started with the Maryland crab cake, the best I’ve had since moving to the west from Maryland 4 years ago. Filled with lump crab meat, no filler and a superb lemon butter sauce to complement. We had veal saltimboca and ahi tuna as entrees and they were equally delicious. The presentation was very appealing and our server, Ben, was perfect. This is a small bistro with high energy. The kitchen is open air and we sat in the window so the place feels cozy but not closed in. A real gem. Don’t miss this place.

Best meal in Santa Fe! I got the scallops — best I can remember ever eating. My mom had the veal, which she loved! Wine was tasty too. I was full half way through my meal, but I had to finish the scallops because they were THAT good. This two-​man kitchen team is pretty incredible.
We skipped dessert because we were so full from dinner, but the menu looked delicious.
Great service! Super friendly! Warm atmosphere and this restaurant smells great!

We had an excellent meal here! I was skeptical about ordering fish in New Mexico but they nailed it. Don’t worry about ordering seafood here. The tuna and barramundi were both delightful, though different. I had the duck with berries and kale. Comes highly recommended. Service was great. Ask for Shelly! Be sure to make a reservation or come in early. The place really started filling up by 7:00!

This place was amazing! Great service and phenomenal food. Shelly was an excellent waitress– very attentive. I had the duck– yum! My husband had the Wahoo with sticky rice. Both were fantastic. You have to go here if your taste buds want to be happy :)

This restaurant is a real treat. Excellent food, outstanding service and wonderful wines! Don’t miss this!

Cute place but empty mid afternoon Friday. They wanted us to sit at a table for two and reserve the better located tables of four for four. We left and went across the street to Secreto’s for a killer cocktail on the patio.

I’ve been here twice now…
…the first time the evening before running a half marathon. Though bison ribs have not been said to be great pre-​race fueling, I enjoyed them at Galisteo!
…the second time this past weekend. As much as I wanted to try a new restaurant in Santa Fe, I knew that Galisteo served delicious meals. Unfortunately they didn’t have the bison on the menu, but I did try a new fish (Skook) I hadn’t tried before in addition to the stuffed grilled calamari appetizer. Both were delicious! The calamari came stuffed with seasonal vegetables, including morel mushrooms, which are a rare addition to any restaurant menu item. The skook was atop seasonal veggies (asparagus, brussel sprouts, & truffle dusted cauliflower) & was topped with a tomato sauce. Delicious! The customer service was attentive, kind, & very accommodating to modifications & allergies.
Galisteo is a no brainer dinner choice in Santa Fe!

We were quite pleased w/​our meal. I had the ribeye w/​wonderful vegetables. I also started w/​the shrimp bisque, but I wouldn’t order that again (it was just ok). Service was very good.

Okay, first of all, I’m so worried about this restaurant because it was empty today. The food is fantastic. Maybe not super New Mexicany, but very good. I had a delicious veal saltimbocca which was as close to perfect as it gets. Then for dessert, the sweet potato cheesecake: seriously yummy. My companion had their latest version of their mud puddle. I’m not a fan of chocolate, but I can definitely see it’s appeal. The staff were also fantastic. Go there!

Awesome experience in every capacity.
Loved the stuffed calimari.
Very welcoming experience

The food is delicious and the atmosphere is fantastic. The foie gras was perfect. We also order the filet mignon and the rabbit. The open kitchen is a plus. The service is remarkable. Not a good place to go with children! Fantastic location!